OT: Train Set for Toddler

[katerkat]

where's the table??

The table at Target? It's in the toy section, but not near the trains. There's an aisle that has more "learning" toys like bead mazes and building sticks and stuff like that, and the wooden train set and table are over there. It's near their play kitchen stuff, if I recall.

 

[treboats]

We have two train tables and my favorite is the kidkraft table with the rolling trundles. It is very sturdy too in fact sometimes it doubles as a stage for my 2 1/2 year old.

 

[NemoMOm]

QVC has one today for 63 plus s/h for christmas in JULY

 

[NMW]

My oldest son (now 10) was crazy obsessed with Thomas. I think he had at least 2 Thomas themed birthday parties. I even took him to the movies to see the Thomas movie. Anyone remember it? Alec Baldwin was in it. We have the table and enough track, buildings and engines for probably 4 tables. My younger son (8) also played with them, but not as much as his brother. It's all in storage in my basement now. My DD was never interested in them.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

From one train nut's mom to another...
Costco usually has a train table set that comes out in the store around this time of year. It is super nice and very reasonably priced. I think it was around $150 in the store, and it includes a nice starter track, and has huge drawers on casters. We missed out on this a few years ago, but a friend did buy hers there and it is still in great shape. We had to order from One Step Ahead and pay around $300 for almost exactly the same table. It has been played with EVERY DAY for 3 years and shows very little wear. It was definitely money well spent. When folks would ask what DS wanted for birthday/Christmas we'd tell them about a particular train that he'd mentioned wanting, or a track part, mainly to avoid getting duplicates, and we'd tell them where they could get it. It makes gift buying easier for everyone and that way they know he'll like it and play with it a lot. Good luck!

We bought a table and train set from Sam's Club for about $100 5 years ago. It had two drawers on each end for storage. My boys loved the table but the twin had trouble containing the size of their trains to the top of the table, so we sold the table and the boys now make trains on the floor that are huge. They have Thomas, Brio and some off name trains and track pieces that all work together. We still seem to be adding pieces each year for the boys. This is a toy I will keep for the grandkids

 

[jennilouwho]

Okay, this may be a stupid question, but aren't the Thomas tracks plastic and the Brio ones wood? And they still work together???

Jen

 

[Crazoo]

What about this one? Really good price
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.h...1185373440&sr=1-10&tag=deal0e-20&linkCode=ur2

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Okay, this may be a stupid question, but aren't the Thomas tracks plastic and the Brio ones wood? And they still work together???

Jen

The cheaper Thomas tracks are plastic and are not compatible with Brio but the Holy Grail of Thomas' are the wooden sets which can run upwards of $500 a set. Those are compatible with Brio.

 

[labdogs42]

I got my DS a train table from Target on clearance last fall for about $57. I love that table! It didn't come with any tracks, but I didn't need those! I have a ton of Thomas stuff from stocking up at AC Moore (like everyone else) with the coupons. I don't think the expensive tables are worth it. I was totally tempted to buy one of them, but then I found this deal at Target and I knew it was for me! If you have time, look at yard sales and on Craigslist. I'm sure people unload their collections there from time to time.

I know I saw some great Thomas sets on Clearance at AC Moore last week. I was tempted to buy them, but we're pretty well stocked on Thomas stuff right now and DS is in a Bob the Builder phase right now anyway!!

Another great site for accessories and tracks is www.squirreltracks.com I got some really cute truss bridges and the short train track connector pieces there and they work just fine with my assorted Thomas and Imaginarium tracks!

 

[jennilouwho]

The cheaper Thomas tracks are plastic and are not compatible with Brio but the Holy Grail of Thomas' are the wooden sets which can run upwards of $500 a set. Those are compatible with Brio.

Thanks! I'd like to get my son a wooden set at some point, so I appreciate that info!

Jen

 

[monorailsilver]

Am I the only one who thinks a train table is useless?

Nope, I do too. I can't fathom putting a small track together. I wish I took pictures of some of the tracks I built. They are the size of the whole room & my kids have fun playing on them.

I have to wait until my 16 month old is a bit bigger before I take the time to build like that again.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Am I the only one who thinks a train table is useless?

Useless? No way it's great for holding laundry baskets, stuffed animals, etc.

 

[lonegirl]

It's not Thomas, but...
We have GEOTRAX from Fisher-Price. This is why I love it:
Both boys went through Thomas obsession and I almost caved and bought wood set/table. I am so glad we didn't. 4year old now thinks Thomas is babyish, and we have the diecast set from Target to quench my 2 year old's thirst when he wants Thomas.

Geotrax from Fisherprice is awesome. DH and I love to play too. The tracks snap together (my boys get frustrated when playing at friends' homes with wooden tracks always falling apart) and you can constantly and CHEAPLY add to the set. We get it out maybe 1-2 times a month, set up a huge track on playroom floor, leave it up 2-3 days until the boys stop playing train and start running their bulldozer into it, then put it back in big rubbermaid bins. 4 year old and his friends love it, they can build different tracks. The trains are powered by remote control and actually run and make noise! The 2 year old pushes the trains and makes the noises himself, which he loves to do. Every Christmas and birthday we can cheaply add another building, track set, or train CHEAPLY!!!

It has truly grown with us and it is a toy that brings us together!